Watch and timepiece



WATCH AND TIMEPIECE File d June 26, 1940 IN VEN TOR.

, Rolf Wuldamav Haring I M.4)MZM Patented Nov. 9, 1943 VATCH AND TIMEPIECE Rolf Waldemar Herlng, Rio de J aneiro, Brazil Application June 26, 1940, Serial No. 342,433

In Brazil July 26, 1939 1 Claim.

This invention relates broadly to watches and clocks and, more particularly, to an improvement in the structure for winding the same.

One object is to provide a structure for winding a timepiece, and to provide, along with the winding structure, means for ascertaining, at any time, the amount of time for which the timepiece will run until re-winding is necessary,

Another object is the provision of a winding mechanism for timepieces which will provide for the rapid winding of such timepiece with slight effort, and which eliminates the milled stem or knob heretofore almost universally used in watches and similar timepieces. At the same time it is intended to provide a device which may be applied to the basic structure of certain timepieces now in existence without extensive modification of such basic structures.

Still again it is an object to avoid the possibility of breakage of the main spring of the timepiece resulting from excessive winding. In the furtherance of this object it is now proposed to provide means which will prevent winding beyond certain predetermined limitations.

The invention is illustrated in the followin specification and drawing in which Figure 1 is a plan view;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section; and a Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan of the gearing.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like reference numerals denote similar elements, the invention is embodied in a watch comprising a main casing 2 which encloses an inner mechanism including a stem 4, gearing 6 driven by rotation of the stem for winding the main spring 8 which in turn drives hands Ill through suitable mechanism. The inner workings of the timepiece iorm no part of this invention and are merely illustrative of the type of device to which the invention is applicable.

The inventive structure comprises a pinion l2 fixed to stem 4 for rotation therewith, it being noteworthy that stem 4 does not have the usual knurled external winding element. Rotatively mounted in casing 2 is a ring l4, a segment of which is provided with gear teeth It on the edge thereof which lies within the main casing. Gear teeth l6 mesh with pinion I: on stem 4 so that, as ring 14 is turned relative to casin 2. pinion I2 is thereby rotated so as to turn the stem 4 to wind the watch. In the example shown, rotation of ring l4 counterclockwise winds the watch. While the particular gearing and ,one another a distance equal to the angular extent of gear teeth IS, an abutment 22 in the form of a pointer being aflixed to main casing 2 between the stops so that, when ring I4 is rotated counterclockwise, stop l8 engages abutment 22 when the end of the series of gear teeth l6 reaches pinion l2, in which position the watch is wound. When the watch is unwound, ring l4 will have rotated to bring stop 20 against abutment 22.

Of particular importance is the provisionof graduations 24 spaced along ring l4 between stops I8 and 20 so that it may be determined by inspection to what extent the watch is wound and to what extent the watch will run until it will needfurther winding. Preferably the graduations lie so that they maybe associated with abutment 22 which forms a pointer. It is to be understood that while the invention was illustrated as applied to awatch, it is likewise applicable to other timepieces such as alarm clocks,

and other horological instruments.

Having thus described in detail the invention and the method of realization of same, I claim:

A watch or other timepiece having means indicating the extent to which the watch is wound. comprising a toothed member within the watch case, a stem actuated by said member for transmitting a rotary motion to the spring winding mechanism of the watch, an actuating ring member forming part of the sidewall of the watch case, and internal arcuate series of teeth formed on said ring and meshing with said toothed member to wind the watch, said indicating means further comprising members respectively on the ring and on the other part of the sidewall of the watch case, and stops for limiting the movement of said ring at the fully wound and unwound positions of the spring.

ROLF WOLDEMAR HERING. 

